Equiano finally raised enough money to purchase his manumission in july of 1766. As it was for all slaves, the middle passage for equiano was a long, arduous nightmare. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the autobiography of olaudah equiano. In this harrowing description of the middle passage, olaudah equiano described the terror of the transatlantic slave trade. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. Middle passage by olaudah equiano one of the most interesting arguments that modern apologists makes for the practice of racebased slavery in the americas is the fact that slavery existed in africa during that time period and that africans were complicit in the transatlantic slave trade. Its main objective is to publicise and celebrate the life and work of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano, selfproclaimed west african sold into slavery and later freed. A key document of the early movement to ban the slave trade, it includes the earliest known firsthand description by a slave of the horrific middle passage from africa to the americas. An analysis of olaudah equianos the middle passage.
Children and youth in history the interesting narrative. Equiano passage is between west africa and the caribbean island of barbados, at that time a common voyage as the british plantation island was among the most easterly of the caribbean islands. In his biography, he records he was born in what is now nigeria, kidnapped and sold into slavery as a child. Equiano s accounts of africa and the middle passage have became famous. Olaudah equiano, an african captured as a boy who later wrote an autobiography, recalled. Equiano made the middle passage, the phrase used to describe the horrible trip slave ships made between africa and the new world. Until recently, slave studies rarely discussed childrens experiences, but it has been estimated that one quarter of the slaves who crossed the atlantic were children.
Equianos accounts of africa and the middle passage have became famous. Children and youth in history the interesting narrative of. It went through one american and eight british editions during his lifetime. Students are moved by the graphic scenes of slavery, the middle passage experience described by equiano, and. Olaudah equiano recalls the middle passage 1789 olaudah equiano 1745. Olaudah equiano describes the middle passage, 1789 the. First hand narrative written by ex slaves were encouraged by equiano was born in separated from his sister, equiano was sent to. He was born into an igbo community that he called essaka, or most probably isieke, in what is now the ihiala local government area of the anambra state of nigeria.
The best study guide to the life of olaudah equiano on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes. Equiano is believed to have died in 1797 at the age of 52. Quotes from olaudah equianos the life of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano was a righteous man who was stolen from his home as a child, and made into a slave. Jan 01, 2009 one of the most remarkable figures in the history of african literature is olaudah equiano, who is also known as gustavus vassa. Olaudah equiano rose to prominence in the late 18th century as the leading black campaigner for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. The title says the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano and it certainly was interesting. Olaudah equianos argument against slavery was his life.
Start studying olaudah equiano recalls the middle passage. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts. His book the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african was one of the earliest firsthand accounts of life in africa, the horrors of the middle passage and enslavement. After a short period of time in barbados, equiano was shipped to virginia and put to work weeding grass and gathering stones. Commonlit olaudah equiano recalls the middle passage free. Excerpt from the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. Equiano, 58 equianos writing on the middle passage is the section of the work most likely to end up in anthologies for history and literature classes. Equiano refers to his treatment by european slave traders in the middle passage as a new refinement in cruelty and paints a picture of a harrowing journey on board a slave ship. Olaudah equiano describes the middle passage, 1789. Middle passage page 3 of 7 the atlantic slave trade was the largest forced migration of people by sea in history. The book was an important tool in the abolition campaign and remains relevant today as a fascinating historical document and an. Mar 27, 2020 olaudah equiano, selfproclaimed west african sold into slavery and later freed. He braved the harsh conditions of the middle passage to the. The society also celebrates and publicises the achievements of equiano s contemporaries.
The project gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of. Olaudah equiano made the middle passage, was a plantation slave in the west indies and virginia, and spent time in the british navy and on a slavetrading ship run by a quaker merchant, before buying his freedom in 1766. Olaudah equiano, kidnapped at age 11, became one of the most prominent english abolitionists of the 18th century. Equiano s greatest legacy is his classic 1789 autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. The interesting thing about this book is that equiano doesnt just survive the middle passage, but actually crosses the atlantic multiple times, traveling from south america to england to the american colonies to the caribbean to the middle east, all while trying to win his freedom. In 1789, a middleaged africanborn man in london published the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, laying the foundations for new genres of literature and new ways of understanding the experiences of enslaved people. The following text is an excerpt from equianos autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, in which equiano tells the tale of his brutal voyage across the. The project gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, by olaudah equiano this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. The middle passage by olaudah equiano the middle passage from the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, written by myself is a traumatic narrative of the horrors suffered by the africans slaves of the 18th century, which has touched my heart.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, written by himself, this is a fascinating account of equiano s time spent in enslavement, and his attempts at becoming an independent man through his study of the bible, and his success in gaining his own freedom and in business thereafter. Firstperson accounts of the middle passage are very rare. The society also celebrates and publicises the achievements of equianos contemporaries. Here equiano recounts the middle passage, the trip that slaves made from africa to the western hemisphere. Olaudah equiano s firstperson account recalls his terrifying journey as an 11yearold captive aboard a slave ship from africa to barbados in 1756. Equiano then endured the middle passage on a slave ship bound for the new world. He then endured the middle passage on a slave ship bound for the. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano essays are academic essays for citation. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa the african. Equiano traveled extensively and learned the mariners trade with pascal, who sent equiano to london for schooling.
Equiano is sold to the owner of a slave ship bound for the west indies, and he goes on to describe the middle passagethe journey across the atlantic ocean that brought enslaved africans to north america. Courtesy of the historic maps division, department of rare books and. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of. After a short period of time in barbados, equiano was shipped to virginia and. Olaudah equiano, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Equiano s travels brought him to turkey, martinico, georgia, montserrat. It discusses his time spent in slavery, serving primarily on galleys, documents his attempts at becoming an independent man through his study of the bible, and his eventual success in gaining his own freedom and in business thereafter. Oct 24, 2005 equiano s greatest legacy is his classic 1789 autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. Olaudah equiano, was a former enslaved african, seaman and merchant who wrote an autobiography depicting the horrors of slavery and lobbied parliament for its abolition. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, first published in 1789 in london, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano.
Written by himself when we have had some of these slaves on board my masters vessels to carry them to other islands, or to america, i have known our mates to commit these acts most shamefully, to the disgrace, not of christians only, but of men. This is an extract from the autobiography of olaudah equiano describing his capture in nigeria as a young boy of about eleven and the subsequent journey to the caribbean on a slave ship. His narrative is extremely valuable not only for the wealth of information it presents on childrens experiences in the slave trade, but also for those examining the abolitionist movement in england during this period of time. Excerpt from the interesting narrative of the life of. Olaudah equianos 272nd birthday born in nigeria, african writer and abolitionist olaudah equiano was sold into slavery as a boy. The middle passage by olaudah equiano essay 754 words. As he was firmly indebted to the kindness of farmer and king, he continued to sail with them, but now as a paid steward and sailor.
The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Equianos autobiography is in part a reaction against this type of prejudice. Olaudah equiano 17451797 was eleven years old when he and his sister were kidnapped from their home in west africa and. The narrative is argued to represent a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. His descriptions of extreme hardships and desperate conditions are punctuated by his astonishment at new sights and experiences. Equiano s account of the middle passage is an early example of a slave narrative. Olaudah equiano 17451797, known by people as gustavus vassa, was a freed slave turned prominent african man in london. Olaudah equiano quotes author of the interesting narrative. Olaudah equiano was born in 1745 in eboe, in what is now nigeria. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. This extract, taken from chapter two of the interesting narrative, describes some of the young equianos experiences on board a slave ship in the middle passage.
One of the very first slave narratives, the interesting narrative of olaudah equiano 17451797, served as a prototype for the wellknown slave autobiographies of the 19th century written by such fugitive slaves as frederick douglass and harriet jacobs. Learn the important quotes in the life of olaudah equiano and the chapters theyre from, including why theyre important and what they mean in the context of the book. What was equiano s main purpose in writing the interesting narrative of the life of equiano. The life of olaudah equiano quotes and analysis gradesaver. Read a description of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Also their interest is aroused by equiano s fascinating descriptions of africa as a selfsufficient culture and society before the incursions of the whites. Olaudah equiano wrote an account of the middle passage in his 1789 autobiography. In this harrowing description of the middle passage, olaudah. A teaching guide from the antislavery literature project, with a crosscultural study guide coauthored by shi penglu. Now a free man, equiano returned to london where he made significant contributions to the abolitionist movement, and published his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, which influenced the slave trade act of 1807. He then endured the middle passage on a slave ship bound for the new world. Equiano tells us that he was the son of a chief, and that at about the age of eleven he and his sister were kidnapped while out playing, and were marched to the coast and put on board a slave ship.
When he was about ten years old, he was kidnapped by africans known as aros and sold into slavery. According to his own account, equiano was kidnapped at age 11 and taken to the west indies. At last, when the ship we were in, had got in all her cargo, they made ready with many fearful noises, and we were all. Professor vincent carretta, of the university of maryland, has written what is clearly the definitive biography of olaudah equiano, hitherto supposed to have been born in 1745 in what is now nigeria and transported, as a slave and via the middle passage, to the west indies, along with his subsequent adventures in the americas, europe and the middle east until he was eventually regarded as a.
Olaudah equiano wrote the interesting narrative at a time when many. Commonlit olaudah equiano recalls the middle passage. The book describes equiano s time spent in enslavement, and documents his attempts at becoming an. Olaudah equiano composed the firstever slave autobiography as a freed slave living in england. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts the. In short, reading this book challenges a reader to weigh historical evidence and to address the problematic nature of any autobiography, including the extent to which we can rely on a writers memories and selfrepresentation. Children and youth in history children in the slave trade. Video excerpt of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. Olaudah equianos narrative museum of american history. Equiano describes it as the happiest day of his life. Dec 19, 20 the middle passage by olaudah equiano the middle passage from the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, written by myself is a traumatic narrative of the horrors suffered by the africans slaves of the 18th century, which has touched my heart. When i looked round the ship too and saw a large furnace of copper. However, i kept asking myself why reading this autobiography felt more like reading gullivers travels than a former slaves account of his life.
Audio and excerpt from the smithsonian national museum of. The following text is an excerpt from equiano s autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, in which equiano tells the tale of his brutal voyage across the. Olaudah equiano describes the horrors of the middle passage, 1780s. In 1773 he accompanied irving on a polar expedition in search of a northeast passage from europe to asia. Equiano published his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, in 1789 as a twovolume work. In the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, why did slaves jump off the ship. Middle passage national museum of american history. We will never know whether equiano came from africa or not, but his account about the middle passage is by far the more touching.
Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. His 1789 autobiography was immensely popular, and he is considered the originator of the slave narrative, although there is controversy regarding his birth. Pdf teaching guide to the interesting narrative of the. The book is bestknown for its description of the inhumane middle passage to america, which. In his autobiography he describes the inconceivable conditions of the. For the nearly 300 years that preceded olaudah equianos writing of his life, the international slave trade had shrunk the world like never before. Olaudah equiano made the middle passage, was a plantation slave in the west indies and virginia, and spent time in the british navy and on a slavetrading ship run by a. First published in 1772, the volume recounts equiano s kidnapping in africa at the age of 10 or 11, and how he was subsequently.
Equiano became an abolitionist and began to record his life story after being freed. Abolition, ethnicity, and identity in the interesting narrative. At last, when the ship we were in, had got in all her cargo, they made ready with many fearful noises, and we were all put under deck, so that we could not see how they managed the vessel. It is a compelling and wellwritten source which describes the middle passage the terrible journey from africa to the west indies. Ignatius sancho, phillis wheatley, ottobah cugoano, and others who made outstanding contributions to african literary and cultural heritage. Olaudah equiano recalls the middle passage quizlet. It is a compelling and wellwritten source which describes the middle passage the terrible journey from africa to. The abolition project olaudah equiano middle passage extract 1. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african summary supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.
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